Gray Area

by George P. Saunders

Lou Diamond is known for being the best field agent around in the Los Angeles Police Department's elite division, the Office of Special Services. The OSS, quite simply, gets the worst crime jobs on the planet-and Lou Diamond, at one time or another, has seen them all. An ex-tactical assault agent with Special Weapons and Tactics, Diamond has enjoyed a near one hundred percent success rate in solving any crime, anywhere.

But when lawyers suddenly end up mysteriously dying at his brother's prestigious law firm, the evidence to be found is wanting in every way. The suspects in Lou Diamond's book are all dirty in some way, but all clear of the suspicion of murder. As the body count continues to grow at the firm he is investigating, so to does Diamond's belief that the murderer at large is killing with a purpose other than personal revenge.

Things become more complicated still when he meets one of the firm's most powerful partners, the beautiful and alluring, Linda Baylor. Compelled into a bizarre, sexual relationship with Baylor, Diamond begins to have a terrible suspicion that there is a gray area between sex, trust and blood. And that at the end of the day, nothing is as it seems-and no one is who they claim to be.
Lou Diamond comes to understand that the end result of such ambiguity is death.

Genres: Mystery, Suspense, Thriller, Ebooks, Amazon, Fiction

206 pages, Kindle Edition

First published June 18, 2007

About the author

George P. Saunders occupies his time on Planet Earth in the lovely town of Beverly Hills, California. He is the author of the celebrated crime thriller Gray Area, along with ten other novels in the science fiction, young adult and horror genres, as well as non-fiction humor and satire. He has over 25 films either produced, directed or written and more than a dozen more which he has co-starred in with such notable celebrities as Sean Connery and Alec Baldwin in Hunt For Red October (as George Winston), Joey Travolta, Richard Lynch, C. Thomas Howell and Mickey Rooney. Saunders was the head writer on the reality series for Military Films during the Gulf War, wherein he worked with the Navy Seals and other combined elements of the United States Armed Forces. While not writing, acting or doing other entertainment related 'stuff', Saunders is known to enjoy a fine tequila on occasion, followed by a dry Cabernet.

More about Saunders may be gleaned on my blog at www.GeorgePSaunders.blogspot.com

Reviews

[Ed Scott · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good suspense, but the hero had to be immortal to go through everything he did and survive. Still a great page turner. Finished in a half a day.

[Val · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lou Diamond is one of the best field agents in the game. Off the back of an undercover operation, Diamond is told that his estranged brother wants to see him. A Managing partner at a law firm, he’s called his brother to a double murder at the law practices premises. It’s not really his area, but with a PI Licence, he agrees to look into the case.

Whilst an arrest is made swiftly, Lou doesn’t think they’ve got the right person. Despite being encouraged to “close it quickly with the obvious suspect” Lou keeps digging for the truth - and in doing so sets in motion a trail of disaster.

[Mary Thompson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good enough

This book is okay. Everything about it is okay - not phenomenal, not bad - I would not read it again, but I'm not sorry I read it once.

[Jeannie Walker · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lou Diamond's life was almost destroyed when his wife was murdered.
He was left to pick up the pieces and bare the agony. The murder changed his life forever. He was now a shell of what he once was as one of LA's best cops and agents. He found himself growing to enjoy killing and began wishing for his own death. Could he keep cheating the reach of the grim reaper?
This novel has some rough language...but if we think about how cops face evil, rough and tough criminals every day as they risk they lives...then shouldn't we overlook the rough language and enjoy this action packed crime fiction mystery? I think maybe we should. However, because of some of the rough language I wasn't sure the novel needed, I gave it three stars.

Jeannie Walker - Award Winning Author of "Fighting the Devil" - A True Story of Consuming Passion, Deadly Poison, and Murder

[Bob · Rating 3 out of 5]

Special Agent Lou Diamond gets a call from his lawyer brother when two attorneys from is firm are murdered in the law office library. A possible suspect is put forward, but Lou has his doubts and when his brother hires him as a private investigator he continues to poke around. Things become more interesting and deadly when more members of the law firm end up killed and Lou is targeted and only is military experience and natural abilities allow him to survive and he ends up fighting a government connected private arms company. Plenty of action with some between the sheets but mostly of the more dangerous kind as Lou tries to stay alive and get the killers.

[Douglas Cook · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good police drama.

First paragraphs -
PROLOGUE     The day his wife was murdered, a large part of Lou Diamond’s own life was destroyed.   The destruction did not slowly repair itself; the passage of time did not heal the trauma, nor did it give a sense of perspective that life was a journey filled with pleasure and pain, and sometimes loss.   For Lou Diamond, the agony of his particular loss would remain a burning harshness in his body and soul that would forever rage out of control.

Saunders, George P. (2012-01-31). Gray Area (Kindle Locations 16-20). . Kindle Edition.

[Sharon Michael · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lots of action, vivid characters, high body count, definitely on the dark side. The author made an attempt at lightening the main character with his daughter but it didn't really click with me ... not enough personal contact, just a 'theoretical' connection which just didn't quite seem as realistic as it should have been.

Quick, entertaining read but a little too grim for me in the long term, I think.

[Sally Beaudean · Rating 2 out of 5]

I enjoyed the mystery/thriller aspect of this novel; however, my enjoyment was frequently overshadowed by my disinterest in the use of foul language and sexual content, neither of which was necessary to move the story along. I wish authors did not feel the need to include such content in an effort to sell books.

[Sandy · Rating 2 out of 5]

took me over 10 days to read a book of only 193 pages - Why ?? because of all the numerous clichés and thesauruses words I had to stop and look up because they really didn't fit with sentence they were used in. Also way too much violence with unlikely results.

[Joyce · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lots of violence. The protagonist is a 'supercop' with a strong military background (read that as very experienced in violence and mayhem). The plot is as complex as anything where all the individuals involved are less than honorable can be. The ending is as expected.

[Amber Moore · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was ok but I had trouble getting into it like I do most books. To many un needed details. Made for a slow read.